Abstract:

The report introduces The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood) and its mission statement, within the context of the wider TEEB initiative. It highlights the need to fix food metrics by applying a holistic systems approach and evaluating the impacts and dependencies between natural systems, human systems and agriculture and food systems. Further, it explores the rationale and objectives of the Scientific and Economic Foundations report based on the extent of positive and negative externalities in ‘eco-agri-food systems’ and the lack of a coherent, universal framework, thus setting up the narrative and outline for the rest of the report. The key topic included in the report includes Systems thinking, Eco-agri-food, Human health, diets and nutrition: missing links in eco-agri-food systems, the TEEBAgriFood Framework: towards comprehensive evaluation of eco-agri-food systems, TEEBAgriFood methodology: an overview of evaluation and valuation methods and tools, Application of the TEEBAgriFood Framework: case studies for decision-makers, the TEEBAgriFood theory of change: from information to action, and TEEBAgriFood and the sustainability landscape: linking to the SDGs and other engagement strategies.